Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-25
A vALUABLE TRUCK.

Successful Test ofthe Truck in Front
 of the City Hall and Elsewhere Satur-
 daY-NeW Ravens Lead-Distingufsh.
 ed FIremen From Elsewhere View
 the ExhibftfOn-AlbanY Decides at
 Onccto Have One.
 A large crowd witnessed the exhibition of the new $3,000 aerial truck in front of the
 City Hall Saturday afternoon, and it proved to be a complete success and will be a valu- aqle addition to the New Haven fire depart
 ment. When the ladder is to be raised the rear wheel and the seat for the tillerman are swung over to one side. The ladder is se- cured by hinge at the forward end, and is raised by screws manipulated by big crank on each side of the machine. After the lad. der is raised almost perpendicularly it can be turned around to any point without nov ing the truck, and if not high enough an extension ladder can be run out about forty- five feet, making the total length If the lad der ninety feet. The ladder will accommo- date as many men as can get on it, while standing erect in the air, and also as many lines of hose as necessary. Underneath the truck is an iron basket designed to hold a big net which is to be used as life-saving device. The net is round and requires from fifteen to twenty men to hold it. In case of fire where people are obliged to jump to the ground from any considerable distance the net will be stretched and the people to be rescued invited to gently fall into it's meshes. The truck will be great convenience to the department, as they can work at some dis tance from a fire, which is an important item in these days of networks of wires in front of buildings and from it water can be put from any direction desired. Then, too, when { 1oJ 1,o showed out, making the ladder long enough to reach to the top of high buildings and so enable fremen to rescue people from the top stories. This is the first truck of the kind ever used and was purchased from the model, which was exhibited here last February. Its merits were at once recognized by our fire department authorities and New Haven enjoys the distinction of being the first city in the Union to adopt it. Cincinnati will have the second one, which is now partly made, and Chicago, Terre Haute, Knoxville and St. Paul have each ordered one. The weight of the truck is 1900 pounds. At the Center street exhi. bition at c. M. Loomis' Temple of Music the ladder when elevated in air with man at the top was swung around, showing how 8 fireman when on the top of the ladder can be swung from one side of the street to the other. Our fire authorities are perfectly satisfied with the working of the apparatus. 4Ao GEuck WILL D0 housed uQL1 liter the next meeting of the fire commits lioners (when their official action will be ,aken in the easel in No. 2 supply house. After that it will be kept in No. 2's engine 1ouse on Artisan street and the hook and adder there will be sent to steamer 5s house, Fair Haven, and the hook and ladder there will be kept in reserve. After the exhibition Chief Hendrick invited the visitors to a hore dinner at Hills, Savin Rock. The full md complete list of visitors to witness the exhibition is as follows:
 Charles o. Shay, chief New York city.
 John J. Brennan, chief Fifth battalion, New York city. !
 Chief Castles, master mechanic, New York | ity.
 Clifford Thompson, editor Fire and Water, New York city.
 Fred L. Pierce, editor of the Firemen's | Herald, New York city.
 J. B. Mackey, Eureka Fire Hose company. |
 Captain Cook, New York fire department |
 s. F. Haywood, eastern agent Fire Extin- uisher company of Chicago.
 Chief M. B. Higgins and Fire Commission rs McEwen, Uline, Roman, Coleman and Jeweomb of Albany, NY.
 Chief Levi P. Webber and Commissioners | Fitch, Tobin and Murphy of Boston.
 Chief F. E. Coombs, Captain H. R. Will iamson and Superintendent Fire Alarm | ,harles NJ. Mills of Worcester, Mass.
 Chief A. P. Leshure of Springfield, Mass.
 Chief Henry J. Eaton, Captain Cooper nd General L. A. Dickinson of Hartford, Ct
 Chief Robert Kierstead and ex Chief David :. Benedict of Newark, N. J.
 Others from Connecticut were Chief I. B. l [yatt, Meriden; Chief David Ross, Walling- ,rd; Chief Fred w. Wiley, Middletown; hief John L. Jones, Westport; Chief J. J. .bbott, Birmingham; Chief Charles A. Ger enier, Bridgeport: Chief J. H. Osborn, Chief Samuel McGowen, South orwalk; Chief J. M. Whitlock, West An- onia; Chief Charles N. Daniels, Willimantic, nd other numerous officers and members of | le fire departments in this and other States.
 The Albany fire commissioners were so leased with the truck ss exhibited that they ecided immediately after the exhibition to dar n1na of tha tr11cIrs fnr A lhanv |